Bible: 1 Kings 6

The Building of the Temple

6:1In the fourhundredand eightiethyearafter the IsraelitesleftEgypt, in the fourthyearof Solomon’sreignoverIsrael, during the monthZiv1(the secondmonth), he began buildingthe Lord’stemple.6:2The templeKingSolomonbuiltfor the Lordwas 90 feet2long, 30 feet3wide, and 45 feet4high.6:3The porchinfrontof the main hallof the templewas 30 feet5long, correspondingto the widthof the temple. It was 15 feet6wide, extending outfrom the frontof the temple.6:4He madeframedwindowsfor the temple.6:5He builtan extensionall aroundthe wallsof the temple’s main halland holy placeand constructedsideroomsin it.76:6The bottomfloor of the extensionwas seven and a half feet8wide, the middlefloor nine feet9wide, and the thirdfloor ten and a half10 feetwide. He madeledges11on the temple’souterwalls so the beams would nothave to be insertedinto the walls.126:7As the templewas being built, only stonesshapedat the quarry13were used; the sound of hammers, pickaxes, or any otherirontoolwas notheardat the templewhile it was being built.6:8The entrancetothe bottom14level of side rooms was on the southsideof the temple; stairswent up15to the middle floorand then onup tothe third16floor.6:9He finishedbuildingthe temple17and coveredit18with rafters19and boardsmade of cedar.206:10He builtan extensionallaroundthe temple; it was seven and a half feethigh21and it was attachedto the templeby cedarbeams.

6:14So Solomonfinishedbuildingthe temple.286:15He constructedthe wallsinsidethe templewithcedarplanks; he paneledthe inside withwoodfromthe floorof the templeto the rafters29of the ceiling. He covered the templefloorwithboardsmade from the wood of evergreens.6:16He builta wall 30 feetin from the rearof the templeas a partition for an inner sanctuarythat would be the most holy place.30He paneledthe wall with cedarplanksfromthe floortothe rafters.316:17The main hallin frontof the inner sanctuarywas 60 feetlong.326:18The insideof the templewas all cedarand was adornedwith carvingsof round ornamentsand of flowersin bloom. Everythingwas cedar; nostoneswere visible.33

6:23In the inner sanctuaryhe madetwocherubsof olivewood; each stood15 feet40high.6:24Each of the firstcherub’swingswas seven and a half feetlong; its entire wingspanwas 15 feet.416:25The secondcherubalso had a wingspan of 15 feet; it was identicalto the firstin measurementsand shape.426:26Eachcherubstood15 feethigh.436:27He putthecherubsinthe innersanctuary of the temple.44Their wingswere spread out. One of the firstcherub’swingstouchedone walland one of the othercherub’swingstouchedthe oppositewall. The first cherub’s other wingtouchedthe second cherub’s other wingin the middleof the room.456:28He platedthe cherubswith gold.

6:37In the monthZiv56of the fourthyearof Solomon’s reign57 the foundationwas laid for the Lord’stemple.6:38In the eleventhyear, in the monthBul58(the eighthmonth) the templewas completedin accordancewith allits specificationsand blueprints. It took sevenyearsto build.59